The U.S. Under Secretary, Victoria Nuland, expressed concerns during her meeting with Foreign Minister Ali Sabry regarding the upcoming visit of the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6 to Sri Lanka.
Minister Sabry informed her that Sri Lanka, as a neutral nation, had established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to govern the activities of foreign ships and aircraft within Sri Lankan territory.
The minister conveyed that Sri Lanka has consistently applied this SOP impartially to all countries and could not make exceptions solely for China.
Minister Sabry, who was visiting the United States in light of the UN General Assembly, held discussions with Under Secretary Nuland on this matter.
Previously, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had also noted that the SOP had been devised for foreign vessels.
The Chinese research vessel is anticipated to arrive in Sri Lanka in October to conduct research in collaboration with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).
